Pakistan captain Shan Masood has heaped reward over Babar Azam‘s act of stepping up when the crew misplaced opener Saim Ayub to damage within the second Take a look at match in opposition to South Africa at Newlands, Cape City.
Babar got here to open for the primary time in Take a look at cricket after Saim suffered an ankle damage within the Newlands Take a look at and bought dominated out. The previous Pakistan skipper scored back-to-back half-centuries within the Take a look at to indicate he has been returning to type.
Babar, who had not hit a fifty-plus rating since December 2022, made 50 within the second innings of the primary Take a look at in Centurion earlier than hitting 58 and 81 within the Cape City Take a look at.
Pakistan skipper Masood has praised Babar for his act. “It was unlucky that Babar bought out to a shot that he performs rather well. His character, stepping up and elevating his hand after we misplaced Saim to open the innings and get back-to-back scores, these are issues that pleases you greater than something. There have been some traits from a variety of people on this crew which have stepped up each time required,” Masood stated within the post-match presentation after dropping the second Take a look at by 10 wickets.
Shan and Babar have been the cornerstones of a second-inning fightback from the guests after they have been known as for a follow-on. The Males in Inexperienced have been bowled out for 194 within the first innings in reply to South Africa’s 615.
They replied strongly after following on and slammed 478 within the second essay, the best by a visiting crew in South Africa. That is additionally Pakistan’s third-highest crew rating after getting a comply with on in Take a look at cricket with 657/8d in opposition to West Indies and 537 in opposition to Australia being the opposite two.
Shan made 145, the best by a Pakistan batter in South Africa and third-highest by an Asian captain within the Proteas nation. Masood said that he doesn’t fear about private milestones.
“I by no means have a look at private achievements or milestones. You need something you do nicely to finish up in a successful trigger whether or not that is 30 or a 150 or 200. To have that stand with Babar, the fightback and the response after being put again in, we nearly bought by way of the day with out dropping a wicket,” he stated